Major Derry AI forum hears people see significant potential but want meaningful voice in development
A major public discussion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Derry has heard how people see the significant potential of the technology but want a meaningful voice in how it is developed.
Around 130 people gathered at the Guildhall recently for a symposium on the growing impact of AI on society.
The AI Collaboration Centre at Ulster University, in partnership with AI for Collective Intelligence, brought together members of the public, AI experts, and industry leaders for the AI in Our Society forum.
David Crozier CBE, AICC Director, said: “AI raises important questions about the kind of society we want to build and the values that should guide us. While the AICC has been working directly with businesses right across the region, we recognise that the technology stretches across all aspects of life.
"We were pleased to bring together members of the public in Derry~Londonderry...to discuss and examine where we are now, what the technology can do, and what must be done in partnership across business, government and academia to ensure the technology reflects public needs.
"There was a central theme of the evening, that people see significant potential in AI but also want the opportunity to understand it, question it and have a meaningful voice in how it develops."
Professor Seth Bullock, AI4CI Hub Director said: "The chances that AI will be used responsibly and in ways that benefit our society are surely increased whenever the public are engaged in conversations about what AI is and what it can do."
The event in Derry took place the day after the resignation of former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon made headlines around the world.
Mr. Coxon warned that if the AI race continues unabated it could lead to the creation of ‘self-improving superintelligence’ and ‘superhuman systems that can hack anything’.
"The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade,” Mr. Coxon claimed.
The AI in Our Society forum examined how AI is shaping healthcare, education, public services, business and everyday life.
It encouraged participants to consider the ethical, economic and social questions that accompany rapid technological change.
Attendees took part in live polling. Key responses included:
26% said they deliberately use AI several times a day, while the same proportion said they never deliberately use it. A further 21% reported using AI daily.
75% said they felt fairly or very confident explaining, in simple terms, what AI can and cannot do.
Asked about their main concerns, the impact on children, learning and creativity emerged most frequently, followed by false or misleading information.
Concerns were raised around the concentration of power, security and harmful uses, privacy and personal data, environmental impact, bias and discrimination, and the potential impact on jobs.
Another focus was the environmental impact of AI alongside how AI could help tackle climate change and make a positive difference in healthcare and medicine.
The discussion was chaired by Lorraine Acheson, Independent Strategy & Policy Adviser, with panelists:
Professor Michaela Black, Professor of Artificial Intelligence, Ulster University and AICC Principal Investigator.
Tadhg Hickey, Head of AI and Digital Ethics Policy, AICC.
Kathryn Harkin, Head of AI Northern Ireland, NTT DATA.
Mark Lee, Acting Deputy Secretary for Economic Policy Group, Department for the Economy NI.
Patricia O’Hagan MBE, Chair of Matrix NI.